Semi-Finalists: PRECIOUS (Classroom Daydream) | UP (Pixar's done the newsreel intro before but "the spirit of adventure is out there" is still pretty charming.) | (500) DAYS OF SUMMER "this is not a love story" your first clue as to how to read this sly and oft misread movie.

Best Ending

SPOILERS

THE HURT LOCKER

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

NINE

SUMMER HOURS

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

After that smart monologue, a gut punch. Hit the reset button.

"This just might be my masterpiece."

Tarantino knows how to delight his movie-buff audience.

"Begin again. Start from the beginning each time."

Nine loops back in on itself as the stage curtain call looks out over the film shoot.

The granddaughter leaving her own party at the estate, a leisurely drift away from childhood and family history.

A beautifully wordless homecoming. There's no place like Mom.

Gold: WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE Silver: SUMMER HOURS Bronze: THE HURT LOCKER

Finalists: UP IN THE AIR | CHERI (Devastating though I wish the film had earned it a little more.)

Top Dozen Scenes of the Year

(excluding previous scene categories)

BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS

BROKEN EMBRACES

FANTASTIC MR FOX

FANTASTIC MR FOX

HUNGER

Iguanas

The Blind Caress

Canis Lupis

Whackbat

Urine Sweep

HUNGER

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

JULIA

PRECIOUS

A SINGLE MAN

Wee Foal

Meet Brigitte

Masked Mother Proxy

Who Was Gonna Love Me?

The Phone Call

TAKING WOODSTOCK

UP

Acid Trip

Married Life

Gold: MARRIED LIFE Silver: WHO WAS GONNA LOVE ME? Bronze: THE BLIND CARESS